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Evaluating Design

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Writing a Test Script

2:10 with Anya Mezak

Once your Test Plan is done, you will need to create your test script. This is vital for every researcher regardless of experience level. We'll start discussing how to create that in this video and finish in the next stage.

Components of a usability study script

  1. Set up the study
  2. Make participants comfortable
  3. Ask background questions
  4. Use consistent scenarios

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    Once your test plan is done, you need to write a test script. 0:00
    Every researcher, regardless of experience level, should write a script for 0:04
    the usability study. 0:09
    A script ensures they don't miss any details, and 0:11
    provides a consistent protocol for every participant. 0:14
    Without this level of consistency, we can't be sure if findings are meaningful. 0:17
    Here are a few components for your usability study script. 0:23
    First set up the study. 0:27
    Let the participants know why they're here, but 0:30
    provide only the most necessary information. 0:33
    For example, 0:37
    we can tell our participants they're here to walk us through how they find AC units. 0:38
    But we don't want to tell them about the high drop-off rates 0:43
    since that is both confidential and could skew their behavior. 0:47
    Second, make participants comfortable. 0:52
    Usability studies can be uncomfortable, the participant is being watched 0:55
    from many different angles and every single word is being recorded. 1:00
    It's like being on stage without a prepared speech. 1:06
    They can often feel like they're the ones being tested rather than the product. 1:10
    Your job is to make the participants feel comfortable and 1:14
    convince them that they're helping you test a product and not them. 1:18
    Third, ask background questions. 1:24
    In asking the participants background questions, 1:27
    you will be doing two things, confirming that their 1:30
    answers to the original background questions were truthful. 1:33
    And second, learning more about each individual 1:36
    in order to put their feedback into perspective. 1:40
    Four, use consistent scenarios. 1:43
    Write exactly how you will present the scenarios to each person. 1:46
    That way, everyone receives the same information while reacting in 1:51
    their own way, giving you the data needed to draw meaningful results. 1:56
    Now that we know what goes into a great usability script, 2:02
    let's watch how it plays out using a fictional study. 2:06

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